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Polymerization of immunoglobulin domains [electronic resource] : A model system for the development of facilitated macromolecular assembly

Published:
Washington, D.C. : United States. Dept. of Energy, 1991.
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Physical Description:
27 pages : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators:
Argonne National Laboratory, United States. Department of Energy, and United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
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Summary:
We have recently determined that monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (Bence Jones proteins) are capable of reversible polymerization at room temperature. This property, as exhibited by immunoglobulin light chains (normally a component of an intact antibody molecule), may have novel implications for the development of ``molecular nanotechnology.`` The polymerization capability of the immunoglobulin light chain is associated with the so-called variable domain of this molecule. The variable domain is a durable, compact beta-sheet structure of molecular weight approximately 12,000. Most of the primary sequence variation is limited to one portion of the molecule, that portion associated with the contribution of immunoglobulin light chains to the recognition and binding of thousand of different antigens by antibodies. As a consequence of these variations, different light chains polymerize with different degrees of avidity, from negligible to extensive. The polymerization process depends on solution parameters such as Ph. Thus, polymerization might be induced at one pH and suppressed or reversed at another. Combinations of molecules of appropriate specificities could assemble into structures of predetermined three-dimensional forms and properties. These features suggest that Bence Jones proteins represent a powerful model system within which to develop empirical rules relevant to a technology of protein-based ``construction``. Development of these rules will require the combined efforts of biophysical and crystallographic studies, protein engineering, and molecular modeling. 53 refs., 5 figs.
Report Numbers:
E 1.99:anl/cp--74444
E 1.99: conf-9111148--1
conf-9111148--1
anl/cp--74444
Subject(s):
Other Subject(s):
Note:
Published through SciTech Connect.
12/31/1991.
"anl/cp--74444"
" conf-9111148--1"
"DE92004723"
2. foresight conference on molecular nanotechnology,Palo Alto, CA (United States),7-9 Nov 1991.
Stevens, F.J.; Myatt, E.A.
Funding Information:
W-31109-ENG-38
View MARC record | catkey: 13812416